DeMerit makes his mark

The Watford defender has come a long way to meet Plymouth in this evening’s FA Cup quarter-final

JAY DEMERIT lined up and looked across at the empty stand. He glanced towards the opposition and sensed their confidence but reassured himself that he and his teammates could overcome their big rivals and take home the cup. Today the 27-year-old American, playing for a place in the semi-finals of the FA Cup with Watford, would chuckle if reminded about it, but just four years ago the only game that mattered was the North Hillingdon & District Sunday League Division Two Cup final between Islip Manor, the team he played for, and Northolt Massive, which at the time he believed it was.

"I remember how serious all those guys were in that tunnel, just as serious as the players will be today for both Plymouth and Watford," DeMerit insisted. "I'm seeing nobody in the stands because the entire crowd of 100 or so were all in the main stand but